Viktor Bout. Archival photoMOSCOW, June 14 Businessman Viktor Bout, who is serving a 25-year prison sentence in the United States, can be exchanged for one or more Americans convicted in Russia, Russian lawyer Steve Zissu told RIA Novosti.
& #34;I believe that (in the USA. — Approx. ed.) an objective point of view will prevail and that Victor will be exchanged for one or more Americans. <…> I deeply hope that Russia will make it clear to the American side that Viktor Anatolyevich Bout should be included in the list of any exchange deal for any American,” the lawyer noted.
Viktor Bout was arrested in Thailand at the American request in 2008 year as a result of a provocative operation by American intelligence services and taken to the United States. He was accused of preparing a conspiracy to kill American citizens and material support for terrorism. Bout denies the accusations on all counts. In Thailand, he won two extradition proceedings in the first instance, but then, at the appeal stage, the decisions of the courts of first instance were canceled, after which the Russian was taken to the States with gross violations of the laws of both countries. In 2012, a jury in New York found Bout guilty , after which the federal court sentenced him to the minimum sentence under the sane articles — 25 years in prison. The Russian has already served more than half of this term.